REPORT TO COUNCIL
SUBJECT
Title
Report from the Chair of the Downtown Community Task Force (DCTF) on the status of the work of the Task Force
Report
COUNCIL PILLAR
Promote and Enhance Economic, Housing and Transportation Development
BACKGROUND
On December 4, 2018, the City Council appointed a Downtown Community Task Force (DCTF) to support the preparation of the Downtown Precise Plan. The DCTF is advisory and non-voting, and is time limited to the duration of the Precise Plan process. The DCTF meetings are formally noticed and open to the public and activities of the DCTF are subject to the requirements of the Brown Act.
The purpose and mission of the Task Force is to provide input and help guide the Downtown Precise Plan planning process through:
§ High-level strategic thinking on the direction of the plan at key points in the project;
§ Review, interpretation, and guidance on the results of the public workshops and other engagement activities; and
§ Recommendations on the vision, land use, circulation, and key policy topics for the project area.
On October 15, 2020, the DCTF elected from their membership Adam Thompson to serve as Chair for the DCTF and Dan Ondrasek to serve as Vice-Chair with the intent that the Chair and Vice-Chair would represent the DCTF before the City Council through periodic reports.
On December 15, 2020, the City Council appointed two new members to the DCTF to fill positions made vacant due to the resignation of two members originally appointed to represent the Santa Clara University student body. With these appointments, the DCTF membership includes:
• Adam Thompson - Representative of Old Quad Residents Association (OQRA)
• Dan Ondrasek - Representative of Reclaiming Our Downtown (ROD)
• Butch Coyne - Representative of Santa Clara University (SCU), Director of SCU Presents, Santa Clara University’s performing arts center
• Ana Vargas-Smith - Representative of the Historical and Landmarks Commission
• Debra von Huene - Representative of the Cultural Commission
• Rob Mayer - Architect and Santa Clara resident
• Mathew Reed - member of El Camino Real Citizen Advisory Committee, Santa Clara District 2 resident and representative of SV@Home (advocates for affordable housing)
• Atisha Varshney - northside resident and urban design professional
• Chan Thai - resident and tenure-track faculty member in the Department of Communication at Santa Clara University
The DCTF has requested the opportunity to provide an update to the City Council on the progress of the Downtown Precise Plan at the April 6, 2021 City Council meeting.
ENVIRONMENTAL REVIEW
The action being considered does not constitute a “project” within the meaning of the California Environmental Quality Act (CEQA) pursuant to CEQA Guidelines section 15378(b)(4) in that it is an informational report that does not involve any commitment to any specific project which may result in a potential significant impact on the environment.
PUBLIC CONTACT
Public contact was made by posting the City Council agenda on the City’s official-notice bulletin board outside City Hall Council Chambers. A complete agenda packet is available on the City’s website and in the City Clerk’s Office at least 72 hours prior to a Regular Meeting and 24 hours prior to a Special Meeting. A hard copy of any agenda report may be requested by contacting the City Clerk’s Office at (408) 615-2220, email clerk@santaclaraca.gov <mailto:clerk@santaclaraca.gov>.
RECOMMENDATION
Recommendation
There is no staff recommendation.
staff
Reviewed by: Andrew Crabtree, Community Development Director
Approved by: Deanna J. Santana, City Manager